Well-child visits are critical for the ongoing health and well-being of your child. Childhood is a time of rapid growth and change, and you should visit your pediatrician the most when your child is developing the fastest!

Each visit typically includes a complete physical examination as well as an assessment of your child’s growth and development to ensure that any problems are identified as early as possible. Hearing, vision, and other tests are performed periodically. Preventive care is important to keep your child healthy!

Well-child visits are key times for communication. Expect to be given information about normal development, nutrition, sleep, safety, diseases that are “going around,” and other important age-relevant topics. Make the most of your visits by writing down any questions or concerns you would like to bring to your pediatrician’s attention.

Your pediatrician should always pay special attention to whether your child is meeting normal developmental milestones. Your child’s height, weight, and head circumference should be recorded on a growth chart and kept with your child’s medical record.

During a well-visit, you may learn about the body mass index (BMI) curve, an important tool for identifying and preventing obesity.